We all eat food because it provides the fundamental types of materials required to keep our bodies functioning. These materials can be categorised as: macronutrients – carbohydrates, proteins ...
A look at the time it takes for food to pass through the gut from mouth to anus. In a healthy adult, transit time is about 24–72 hours. Read the article The human digestive system for further ...
Nutrients are substances needed for growth, energy provision and other body functions. Macronutrients are those nutrients required in large amounts that provide the energy needed to maintain body ...
Cheesemaking is the controlled process of removing water from milk. This process concentrates the milk’s protein, fat and other nutrients and increases its shelf life. Cheesemaking is one of the ...
Cheese comes in numerous varieties of different styles, textures and flavours, but it’s all made from the same basic ingredient – milk. So what are the differences and how are they created ...
Enzymes extracted from fruits like papaya, pineapple, kiwifruit and fig have uses as medicines, food-processing agents and dietary supplements. Fruits contain enzymes Fruits like papaya ...
The foods we eat supply the energy needed by the body to drive its complex chemical, mechanical and electrical systems. Where does this energy come from, how is it locked into food molecules and ...
In New Zealand, we drink a lot of milk, so you might be surprised to learn that most adults in the world are lactose intolerant and can’t consume dairy products. Inheriting lactose intolerance ...
This interactive illustrates a technique used by scientists to generate transgenic plants.
All tea is made from the leaves of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. Six main types of tea are produced – white, yellow, green, oolong, black and post-fermented. Each type of tea has a unique ...
An instant impression is made with the first bite of a new food or taste of drink. Sensory analysis takes us past this first response, examining how the food’s properties stimulate each of our ...
Breeding a new apple cultivar takes a long time and involves many steps. The aim is to produce high-quality fruit that consumers will like and want to buy. Breeding apples to increase quality The ...
Find out how and why a red-fleshed apple variety is being bred in New Zealand, and discover how genetic information, consumer research and sensory science are all involved. Red-fleshed apples – ...
Ion exchange chromatography is a technique used to separate molecules according to their charge, for example, it can be used to purify charged molecules such as proteins, amino acids and ...
Milk is a highly nutritional natural product that can be used for a wide range of different products. For example, casein protein can be separated and then broken down to provide a nitrogen ...
Gouda is a semi-hard Dutch cheese. A Hamilton-based artisan cheese factory makes traditional Gouda using milk directly from the adjoining farm. Discover how each step in the manufacturing process ...
The purpose of this animation is to show visually how glucose molecules can be assembled to form simple sugars and large macromolecular carbohydrates such as starch and cellulose. To use this ...
This unit plan guides students to design a working model of part of the human digestive system that can be built in the classroom. Purpose Design a model of the mechanical, chemical and ...
A genetic test for lactose intolerance has been devised by researchers at the Canterbury Health Laboratories in Christchurch. Lactose intolerance is common Most of the world’s population (about ...
Can farmers make a profit from growing genetically modified (GM) food crops? Economic modelling can be used to weigh up different factors that influence the profits that can be gained from ...
This animated video shows how the molecular structure of milk changes at various stages of cheese making.
Whey has gone from being a waste product from cheesemaking to a highly valued coproduct. Whey is now widely used in the food industry for its nutritional and functional benefits. What is whey ...
The food we eat can poison us. There are over 200 known diseases that can be transmitted by food. Bacteria or viruses are the main cause of food poisoning. Food poisoning is usually the result of ...
Taewa are traditional potato varieties grown by early Māori settlers in New Zealand. Find out how researchers are now developing unique food products from taewa. Taewa were introduced to New ...
